Mungo Man memorial should include others

The archaeologist who unearthed Australia's oldest human remains more than 40 years ago is urging the government to memorialise Aboriginal people who died during often violent confrontations with European settlers.

Jim Bowler, speaking at the repatriation of Mungo Man's remains in Lake Mungo in NSW's far west, championed the history of Aboriginal people in Australia.

"A 40,000 year legacy continues in Aboriginal descendants today and finds expression in that vital force of their connection to county," he said in a statement delivered to the crowd on the edge of Lake Mungo on Friday.